Mining machine



June 24, 1930. M. HARDICK MINING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1925 TIE@ i in@hrwlv 1w la NN. Nm

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES MICHAEL HARDICK, OF PUNXSUTAWNEY,

PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MINING MACHINE Application led J'uly15,

This invention relates to improvments in mining machines and moreparticularly to coal cutting mining machines of the short- Wall type.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improvedarrangement of cuting devices therefor whereby a kerf may be formedwhich is higher or wider in vertical cross-section nearer the workingface than at the extreme inner margin of said kerf formed remote fromthe working face.

Te invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

.Figure 1 is a side view of the machine constructed in accordance withmy invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the details of the invention it will be observedthat Iprovide a form of shortwall mining machine comprising a main framehaving control devices of the usual character for moving the machinebodily along the mine floor to cut a kerf preferably adjacent the floorof the mine. In the form shown the main cutting element may be of theusual cutter chain type indicated at 12. The cutter chain is movable inthe groove 13 formed about the periphery of a cutter arm 15. The cutterchain is driven by a driving sprocket 16 mounted in alignment with thecutter chain in the main frame 10 in any suitable manner.

Referring now to the subject matter ol' my invention it will be seenfrom the drawings that I provide an auxiliary cutter bar 20 spacedvertically above the main cutter bar .l5 and substantially parallelthereto but extending only a portion of the total length of said maincutter bar 15.v This auxiliary cutter bar is provided with a cutterchain 21 which may be ot a similar type to the cutter chain l2 on themain cutter arm. Suitable means are provided for driving this auxiliarycutter chain. In the form shown this means comprises a shaft 25 arrangedin an upright position and having a sprocket wheel 2GV at the lower endthereof having bearing in the body oiv the main cutter bar 15 andengaging the main cutter chain 12, at one edge 1925. Serialy No. 43,668.

of saidmain cutter arm 15. `This auxiliary chain driving sprocket ismounted at the upper end of the shaft 25 to engage the auxiliary cutterchain. is suitably supported with respect to the machine, in the formshown being provided with an upright support 27 which connects the bodyof said auxiliary cutter bar with the main cutter bar and also providesa bearing for an idler sprocket 3() at the rear end of said auxiliarycutter bar about which its respective cutter chain is trained.

A cutting machine constructed as above described is adapted for use inundercutting coal in a manner similar to the ordinary shortwall machinebut as will appear from Figure 1 the kerf formed by such a machine willbe considerably higher adjacent the machine frame than at the inner endof the kerf. By

cutting a kerf in this manner and form the coal when dislodged or shotdown from the working face after the kerf is cut will tend to roll outand be dislodged in larger lumpsl than is the case with kerfs formed bythe ordinary single cutter bar mechanism as heretofore constructed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a kerf cutting mining machineya main frame, a horizontallydisposed main cutter arm projecting from said main frame having a cutterchain thereon, an auxiliary parallel cutter arm supported rigidly onsaid main cutter arm forwardly of said main frame, cutter chain drivingmechanism on said main Vframe for driving said main cut- Said auxiliarycutter bar ter chain, and a drivingconnection between l said main cutterchain and saidauxiliary chain intermediate the endsv of v*said maincutter arm, said driving connection comprising a sprocket mountedeccentric of the longitudinal axis of said main cutter arm and engagingsaid main cutter chain, and a sprocket driven by said irst namedsprocket and engaging said auxiliary chain.

2. In a kerfcutting mining machine, a main frame, a horizontallydisposed mainl cutter arm projecting from said main frame having acutter chain thereon, an auxiliary parallel cutter arm supported rigidlyon said main cutter arm forwardly of said main frame, cutter chaindriving mechanism on said main frame for driving said main cutter chain,and a driving connection between said main cutter chain and saidauxiliary chain intermediate the ends of said main cutter'arm, saiddriving connection compris'-V ing a sprocket mounted eccentric ofthelongi'- tudinal axis of said main cutter arm and engaging said maincutter chain on the following side of'said cutter rarm, and a sprocketdriven by said first named sprocket and' engaging said auxiliary chain.

Signed at Pittsburgh, in the county Vci Allegheny and State of Penna.,this-8th day' L of July, A. D., 1925.

MICHAEL HARDICK.

